John Cohen - The High Lonesome Sound
John Cohen's documentary 'The High Lonesome Sound'
John Cohen is a founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers as well as a musicologist, photographer and filmmaker. He has been one of the most important "discoverers" of traditional musicians and singers, finding and recording Dillard Chandler, Roscoe Holcomb, and many banjo players, most notably on the album High Atmosphere. Beyond the United States, Cohen traveled extensively to Peru, driven by a fascination for the weaving and lifestyle of the native Andean population. His field recording of a Peruvian wedding song is included on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft. The Library of Congress acquired John Cohen's archive, which includes his films, photographs, music recordings and other historic ephemera in 2011. The artist's work can also be found in the permanent collections of the following museums: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY; Morgan Library and Museum, New York, NY; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Nasher Museum of Art, Duke University, Durham, NC; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC; Neuberger Museum, Westchester, NY;New York Public Library, New York, NY; Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT. Cohen currently resides in the lower Hudson Valley of New York. He frequently performs with the Down Hill Strugglers.
for more from John Cohen go here johncohenworks.com
Introduction from John Cohen's site:
Songs of church-goers, miners, and farmers of eastern Kentucky express the joys and sorrows of life among the rural poor. This classic film evocatively illustrates how music and religion help Appalachians maintain their dignity and traditions in the face of change and hardship. 30 min. 1963. B&W
"The sense of reality the film generates, its comprehensiveness, and its powerful photography make it good and useful; what makes it a great film is its great theme, the awe-inspiring dignity, beauty, and art of the common man in the face of adversity and hardship." -- Journal of American Folklore
National Archives description:
"Documentary: Explores the lives of Appalachian mountain people in a depressed area of Kentucky through spiritual and folk music. Presents songs by revivalist church congregations, coal miners, an unemployed worker, and members of a miner's family (Roscoe). Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, and the Shepherd Family perform. Explains that these poverty-stricken people maintain their traditions and dignity through their music." Copyright status (at the National Archives) is unspecified.
Пікірлер: 96
Rest In Peace John Cohen.
This kind of film is what makes KZread so incredible.
Some of the Best folks in the World ~!!!!!
A quiet look into the heart of a people worthy of respect and admiration, children of God and strong in the things that really mean something in the world today. Sadly, it's more common to find (among the 'cultured' and urban folks today) with their throwaway values and material cravings, nothing this strong and clear. This is where the heart and strength of America is found, not in the big cities with their rush and drive away from the things like God, home, and family. Great video!
@ajrockinshockin2893
7 жыл бұрын
TrikeRoadPoet well said brother. ☺
this can't be matched.... the best
Thank you very much for this moving film. Seems like my life with its mobile devices, internet and steady job, is lacking the feeling these people have.
That's the kind of old farm house I grew up in back in 63, life was so fukin good back then and we didn't even realize it!
What a strong vocal, wow impressed!
Absolutely fantastic. The pictures alone are social historical treasure, the music raises it to another level. :-)
I came for the great Roscoe Holcomb, got a great documentary also. Thank you.
This is what the Americans are good at, recognising something good when they see it and keeping a record. The church, family and the music keeping it all together, it's all still there for those who look to find it, a lesson in less is more. Thank you and God bless for the reminder.
@dooleyged
7 жыл бұрын
no God-no peace. Know God-know peace!!!
@maxwellfan55
7 жыл бұрын
Agreed, and thank you for your comment. Also in reference to the last comment from J Draco. No churches=No God, we were never meant to do this alone which is why we see so many great things in this footage, people forming genuine communities and looking out for the ones who get left behind. A lot of people have lost that, or wouldn't even recognise that now. Instead we now see high attendance at the High Churches of consumerism. God bless you.
@Tenskwatawa4U
7 жыл бұрын
That's not an American thing. It's no different from cave paintings that tell the story of the hunt and bless future ones! Humans have been doin' that for tens of thousands of years, at least. Just saw about a find in Morocco that pushes back the beginnings of Homo sapiens to at least 300,000 years ago!!
@dooleyged
7 жыл бұрын
William Burke couldn't be. 6-8 thousand is about as far back as you can get. The Flood would have destroyed any remains of the short time leading up to it.
@Tenskwatawa4U
7 жыл бұрын
You seriously see no place for solitary spirituality? Who did Moses take up on the mountain with him?
wow what a surprise....among the best documentaries ive ever seen...thank you so much
Awesome vocals and guitar, just awesome.
Love this , reconnects me with my Mother , Mamaw & Papaw , from Middlesboro Ky . I can almost see them in this video. I love my southern roots and wish I could have met all my kin from Bell & Hazard Counties.
I was raised about the same way. religion was taught the same as this was here. Still believe in it. Music was raised on also by my Dad. Along with some of the newer stuff at THAT time. I was born in 1968. So in the South where i still live. It was still being taught to us. Hard work to make real money. We had an old Kerosene Heater thow. Small and sat in the Middle of the room. It warmed it up a bit but not much thow. Better than outside thow. This is all in Florida also, where i still live at to this day. Florida is one of the Southern States. Thow now only the TRUE SOUTHERNERS know this is a Southern State. The ones born after, around late late 70s and into the 80s were lied to completely. And still to this day being lied to. Unless you are brought up in the Mountains like this here. Then they are still being brought up the same way and still living the same way. it has not changed any. Still live this way to this day. ONLY WAY TO LIVE. Easy and everybody gets along with everybody. The Language is DEEP SOUTHERN. The way i talk. A LOT of city slickers can't stand my Language cause they cannot understand me. OH FUCKING WELL. it don't bother me one bit thow. I am SOUTHERN NATIVE BORN AND BREAD.
This is such amazing footage!!..I'm so very proud of my American heritage roots..While I was a little kid at the time, this reminds me of visiting my grandparents farm. It brought back great memories AND loved that it featured the Father of Bluegrass!..Thank you.
sad times for a proud people
Hard life yet beautiful existence; we all lived the same in ol Erina town in the 50s and 60s
Wonderful doc...thanks for sharing
Life doesn't need wall street .
This was awesome....Thank you!!
HERMOSO
I just want the fans to look at me the way the young ladies look at Bill Monroe at 20:46.
That was great.
Pineville KY. I know all about the county of Harlan.....coal mine country. Love them hills and going back!!!!!
@Judyp77
7 жыл бұрын
Steven Lewis ....Steven, do you see the coal mining coming back strong since China is starting to buy it from us?
@camoplumber
7 жыл бұрын
Well, I sure hope so. I am a Trump supporter and is doing what he said so far. If n/k buddies back up with China....then China might go back to buying from n/k. But I don't see that happening!
@Tenskwatawa4U
7 жыл бұрын
China has about had it up to HERE with their unruly stepchild! I can see them bombing the North Korean nuke and missile programs to smithereens one day not too far away.
@danielchais4603
7 жыл бұрын
William Burke: Traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, I feel a bit safer being further from North Korea. I Just need to protect my wallet from possible Lost Wages.
my favorite version of cabbage head by farmer shepherd thank you sir rip rosco legends
Thanks D.Cassel. Great!
really enjoyed the show. gare
He is one of my favorites.
I'm a Yankee who loves this music and heritage. I would like to point out, however, that the tune he plays beginning at about 5:08 is pretty much blues - with the mountain vibe, no doubt, but still blues, which is also part of our heritage.
TROP BON...👂👂👈👈👍👍
Amazing
luv it
Loved this even though it's quite sad.
good video =like
gran documental..
It isn't whether you like it or not. It's about how is was.
The bigger your bible - the bigger your faith... I guess that the louder you scream the easier it is for God to hear you. Really enjoyable video.
Krazy!
Heart and soul of all good things in America.
It's the land that shapes the people.
Wow
Now I want to go Home. I have been gone to long.
At 16:30 A beautiful young woman who would light up the front cover of Vogue today.
Wow! I bet this day and age is so jaded that this is just a hoot to them.I say give me that ol' time religion.
I remember that flag and that's the way church was when I was a child.
Amazing footage and music .Fascinating ! Is it too late to visit any hollows in 2017 ? If there are then I`m goin .
@dodadeb110
7 жыл бұрын
No it's not to late to visit them hollers. I'm from Jackson Ky right up the road from Hazzard. Hollers everywhere. You'd be shocked to see how they move mobile homes & double wides up those hollers.
@AbandonedNorthJersey
7 жыл бұрын
Cool . I figured there had to be . Thanks for the heads up .IM GOIN !
@AbandonedNorthJersey
7 жыл бұрын
I suppose I would be . Never tried it myself so it must be pretty steep . . ..but it sounds easier then building one from scratch . I have heard of those places ,but only heard about them . Some kind of festival would be good enough reason .Thank you for the heads up
flat footing was better then the twist
Is this the same John Cohen who was in the New Lost City Ramblers?
@ZachVance108
7 жыл бұрын
Jon Ham To the best of my knowledge yes I do believe I watched a doc with him talking about first ever seeing roscoe.
@cbc2277
7 жыл бұрын
It is. If it wasn't for John we wouldn't have any of the amazing recordings or videos of Roscoe.
good video and good songs. it can be filmed around 1957-58 ????
@countybanjocompany7062
7 жыл бұрын
1962-63
Where in Kentucky are you located?
weed is legal now in kentucky,..what a long way from here
@muckstar23
7 жыл бұрын
nope not gonna happen ,here to stay
@camoplumber
7 жыл бұрын
hiraldo mcgoo you mean hemp, not medical cannabis. Big difference for the real disabled
What year was this filmed? It looks 1960's, thereabouts.
@countybanjocompany7062
7 жыл бұрын
1963
3:37 - Legend has it this old man killed a charging grizzly by the power of his singing voice...
Bill Monroe &tBB there from about 20:15 to about 21:15. Who can name those particular 'Boys'?
great comments. I need to go shower.
What is the name of the song at 3:49
@countybanjocompany7062
7 жыл бұрын
its a traditional song called Across the Rocky Mountains. Roscoe Holcombs recording of it is on the Smithsonian Folkways release - SFW CD 40144, An Untamed Sense of Control.
Some say society has progressed since these times.. I disagree.
@gusarnold9932
7 жыл бұрын
How right you are Charlie !!
@10yearvet
7 жыл бұрын
May have progressed in material things a bit but society as a whole has badly degraded. I knew people such as this while growing up. I was fortunate in that my grandfather had developed his farm and business to a point that we had more than these people but my grandparents, who raised me, never forgot their roots. They may not have had much in material means but they knew they always had each other. Fiercely loyal to their clan and community.
@Repent-and-be-saved
7 жыл бұрын
Charlie Talmadge the great falling away
everything you see.....is not yours........was never yours
I saw this several yrs ago on a trip thru "coal-country"....in Ky. people out of work....pitiful
White soul.
@AmericanRebel.Crusader
7 жыл бұрын
YEE YEE
Yeah, Whites have "roots" too.
After black lung killed most of these guys off, and opioid overdosing killed off their offspring, hats off to carnegie (where the word carny comes from?), thanks, rockefeller (rocks, does he?), thanks chase bank (think Little Alice, chasing that rabbit down the hole, the one we're now all in financially, and can't get out of. Thanks, one and all of you. We owe you, but just what I can't say here.
Hustlers(preachers) everywhere
Its pathetic that people have to be this aggressive over a video about life! Maybe Mr? Cloud needs to walk in someone's shoes!!!!!
Sing, children, but let the rest go, for fecks sake!!! Coal is dead-another trade must be learned,